If your vintage gaming system consumes batteries quickly, this is for you.
Old-school gaming handhelds can be battery-hungry. Whether it’s the four AA batteries in the original Game Boy or the six batteries in the Game Gear, they tear through cells at a speed that makes modern consoles feel like a luxury. Here’s the easiest way to increase your battery configuration on your old Nintendo, Sega or Atari laptop.
For this guide, we’re focusing on the most popular battery-powered handhelds from the late 80s to early 2000s. These would be Nintendo’s original Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Pocket, and Game Boy Advance, as well as Sega’s Game Gear and the Atari Lynx.
The main thing? Modern rechargeable batteries alleviate much of the friction of these retro handhelds. They save money, reduce environmental waste and avoid the headaches associated with disposable alkalines.
The right rechargeable batteries
For most people, a set of rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries is the way to go. They are reliable, reusable and much cheaper over time than disposable alkalines.
Panasonic Eneloop is a favorite among Woozad staff. It’s consistent and tends to hold up better over time than cheaper options. If you want to save a few dollars, IKEA LADDA is a good budget-friendly alternative. (Some have speculated that they will be renamed Eneloops, but this is unconfirmed.) Both are sold in the AA and AAA sizes that you need for these systems.
- Gameboy – 4 × AA
- Game Boy Color – 2 × AA
- Game Boy Pocket – 2 × AAA
- Game Boy Advance – 2 × AA
- Play equipment – 6 × AA
- Atari Lynx – 6 × AA
Just keep in mind that the system battery indicators don’t always behave the same way with rechargeables. If you see the low battery warning, you may want to get into the habit of quickly saving your game to be safe.
As for how many batteries you need, a good rule of thumb is to buy two complete sets. This way you always have one in the handheld and another charged and ready to use.
A possible exception is modded retro handhelds because things like brighter screens can run faster than the original hardware. In this case, a third set might be in order. Some power-hungry or voltage-sensitive mods may work better with 1.5V rechargeable lithium batteries, although they tend to cost more than standard NiMH batteries.
USB-C Battery Modules
Some models, including the original Game Boy, can be modified with USB-C rechargeable battery kits. This makes the handheld feel more like a modern system, eliminating the hassle of battery swaps. Some work with USB-C power banks, although not all support charging and playback.
There are some risks and disadvantages. For example, some USB-C battery packs don’t fully isolate the battery while charging. This can generate additional heat and make the game less secure while loading. So it’s worth checking user reviews and sticking to liked mods if you go this route.
